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Commissioner Theresa Sparks resigns; colleagues and community pay tribute
Summary
Commissioner Theresa Sparks resigned the Police Commission effective immediately after accepting a full‑time city post; multiple public and internal speakers praised her leadership on transgender policy, recruitment and community relations.
Commissioner Theresa Sparks announced her immediate resignation from the San Francisco Police Commission at the Aug. 15 meeting, saying she had accepted “a position with the city that is going to be a full time position” and that she could not properly devote the time required to both roles.
"It is with great regret that I need to resign from this commission immediately, effective immediately," Sparks said, and she submitted a typed resignation for the commission record. Sparks thanked colleagues, command staff and the city attorney, and described her service as an honor.
Following the announcement, a series of colleagues and community members praised Sparks' leadership. A Tenderloin lieutenant and several officers credited her with improving police relations with LGBT and transgender communities; one speaker noted Sparks' work led to a comprehensive departmental policy on interacting with transgender people that has been influential beyond the city. "You have been there for us," a department representative said, thanking Sparks for advocacy and recruitment efforts.
Speakers also highlighted Sparks' role in the chief search and her steady leadership as commission president. The commission presented a certificate of merit recognizing Sparks' service as commission president from 2007 to February 2009 and her membership on the commission since April 30, 2004.
Sparks told the commission she looked forward to continuing public service in her new role with the Human Rights Commission and thanked staff and commissioners before departing. The commission and audience exchanged acknowledgments and gifts.
The departure creates a vacancy on the commission that will be filled through the city's existing appointment process; the commission did not take immediate action to fill the seat during the meeting.
